Writing implement



men ts,

Patented ug. 7, 1928i.

'uN-iran [STATES PATENT ,oi-Fica FR'AINK'FREDY; 0F KUNTCLIR, -N'D, C HA-RJES SCHRO-H ANDWI-L'LIAM FAVIN'I, 0F BLOOMFILD, NEW JERSEY,'ASSIGNORS, BY-M'ESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO BUSHWICK NA-Tilman BANK.

WRITING IMPLEMNFT.

Ap'piieatoamea July as, 1925, serial No. 46,585. vi'atecwta rune 1e, 192s.

Our invention vrelates to writing 'impleand particularly to pencils in which a plurality of leads or' sil'nilar marking ele- Yinents are mounted for quick, selective movement to andvfrom -active position.

The ,general object is to provide" such a pencil of very simple and economical vconstruction without `sac'rifcing' any essential structural or' operative features.`

. A more particular object is to provide such a .pencil Without the necessity for' employing cranked lead carriers or 'carriers yhaving offset lead grips,- which must be partly rotated as' theyare moved to and from writingposition. For this purpose the invention includes substantially straight lead carriers or stems and co-operat'in'g supporting and guidingy means so `constructed and arrangedthat the stems move very close together and neary the' longitudinal axis ofthe pencil, and the lead carried by" either stein therefore be projected in writing position with very slight, able, and unobjcctiona le deflection of the stem or the leadv grip proper, or of the lead.

The invention includes structures and arrangements vof parts for carrying out the above `and other objectsanda`ls`o includes a .novelj and economical form of lead carrier impelling helix-and carrier-guide arrangement'as fully described here`after. A

The characteristcs and Vadvantagesv of the invention are further sufficiently explained i in connection with the following detail description of the accompanying drawing, which shows certain representative embodb ments of 'the invention. After considering these exemplin'c'ations, persons skilled in the art will understand'that many variations may invention, and we contemplate the employment of any structures that are properly within the sco-pe of the appended claims.

Fig- 1 is a longitudinal section of apencil embodying the invention in onev fo'rrnl Fig. 2 is a perspective" vlew of certain of the separate parts.

Fig. 3 is a section 3 3, Fig. 1, enlarged. Fig.` 4 is a: perspective' View of theup'per .portion ofthe case, sectioned to clearly show the spare leiadholde'r or magazine therein. Fig. is a sectional; 5 5, Fig. k1. Fig. 6 is a detail view', enlarged, of the upper thimble.

The main body ,or tubular case l may be practically unnoticebe made within the principles ofthe of almost anyvmaterial, including metal, but

bore' 2 ofmoderate diameter, the lower-end enlarged ycounter bore 3 and the upper en-v larged counter bore 4. A lower thimble 5 1s lo'catedin the counter bore with ka force displacementand especially against rotation, its cylindrical periphery is .provided with 'corrugations or longitudinal serrations y 6 adjacent fiange 7. `When the inain cylin- Afit.A To aid in securing theV thimble against drical part of the thimbleis inserted in the vrcounter bore 3, the serrations cut their Way into the material of the lower Vend of the counter bore until iange- '7 seats against the `lower end of the case. The thimfble is then effectively locked against displacement or rotation. The outward portion of the thimble, projecting beyond flange 7, has an externa-l screw thread 8 co-operating with 'an internal thread 9 on` vthe tip 10, which is thus.

vdetachably connected to the case. Usually theA t1p is of tapered, conical or conoidal form', and has' at its end the lead bore-11 hich 1s, o'f course, in the longitudinal axis vof the pencil. f

A spare lead holder* or' magazine 415 is located with a `torce lit in the upper counter bore .4. magazine may be of almost any material Includi-ng metal or any suitable y molda'b'le 'com osition. It is provided with longitudinal c 'annels 16, each large enough to receive a'sin'glev lead Yof standard size, and when located 'in ythe case each of these channels i'n conjunction with the case wall forms a separate lead ychamber accessible at the rv'upper endof the case for insertion or removal of .the spare leads. Desirably the magazine has aout-away or flattened face 17 to accommodate" inward portions of fastening devices 18, which secure a spring pocket clip 19E to the outside of the case.

An upper thimble 20 is located with a bearing fit in the upper end of the cylindricalbore 21 of magazine 15. The thimble consists ofupper and lower cylindrical portions 22 ,and 23" connected by a centralA transverse web 24. The 'external diameter of the lower cylindrical portion 23-is` slightlly smaller than that 'ofthe upper portion 22, producing at theE lintersection oi these portions a shallow shoulder which rests on the upper end of the magazine.

A head 30, a portion of which is accessible tor finger manipulation to actuate the active leads, is located with a friction fit on upper cylindrical portion 22. The fit is tight enough to prevent accidental displacement, but not tight enough to prevent ready removal to give access to the spare leads. 'ilo prevent relative rotation of the headV and thin'ible, the upper cylindrical wall 22 of the latter is provided with a longitudinal slot 3l to receive a lug 32 pressed in from Athe integral metal ot the head'.r The head inell/ldes an upper cylindrical portion 34 litting around thimble portion 22, and an ex- 'tei non 35 to receive a rubber eraser 36. A protecting cap 37 encloses the eraser and has an internal screw thread engaging an eX- ternal thread on cylindrical head portion Sil to permit easy-removal and replacement of the cap. The head also includes a thick flange 40 having a lnurled periphery ll eX- posed Jfor convenient fingerV manipulation.

lead carrier guide 45 passes through a circulaiholc i6 and through the central portion of an aperture l? inthe lower end ot the lower thimble 5. This guide or lead carrier support is of substantially H-section and may be produced from a round rod (or of course, it may be molded or otherwise produced) by millingV therein two opposite longitudinal channels 50, 5l., leaving a central web 52 which is as thin as possible, consistent with necessary strength. lr, .erniediate the channels the guide surface consists oic two part-cylindrical portions 53. rl'he lower` end orn the guide is tapered'off as at 5% and this lower end portion project-s below the lower end of the lower thimble 5 a substantial distance, within the hollow tip l0. The lower portion of the guide is secured irrevolubly in the thimble in any convenient way, for example, by soldering or by swaging or forcing together' adjacent portions of the guide and thimble. The upper end o't the guide projects above the central web 24: ot the upper thinible, and the cn y thiinble and connected parts are prevented. trom upward displacement by a ring or collar 5G placed on the upper end ot the lguide and soldered or secured in any other convenient way. lust below the collar the circular hole in the thimble web has a bearing fit about the part-cylindrical guide surfaces 53.

A lead carrying stem isV located in each ot the guide channels. Thus a long stem 60 is located in channel 50, and a short stem 6l in channel 5l. diameterthat they are contained entirely within the channels and without any disadvantageous results the stems may be so' small that they have a very loose lit in the channels.

stem 61.

The stems are of suchr The carrier stems are of any suitably strong and resilient metal. vPiano wire is a desirable material since even in small diameters it is very strong and has Vsubstantial stiifness although it is at the same time resilient and easily bent vto the small degree `-ecessary to permit the lead which is being projected to writing .position to be .deflected to the center line oit the case, as later explained.

Near the upper endeach stem has an impeller follower, identified as 62 for the follower on stem 60, and 63 for the one on stem 6l. These followers may beshaped up from metal blocks, the bodies 64 being drilled longitudinally' for reception ofY the stems. In some cases the upper end of the stem may project above the follower body as indicated itor stem 6l in the drawing, but this is not necessary in all cases. Lugs 65 project from the outward face of each impeller body and the inward faces `ofthe lugs are formed substantially parallel and angularly to lit 'the impeller helix.Y The :tollower bodies 64 are o't' 'cross section approximate to that of the channels'O and 5l, or in other words, have a fairly'close sliding tit in the channels. l

At the lower end each stem (SO-6l .has a suitable lead Vgrip -71 respectively. These grips may be slidable on the stems for purposes ot lead ejection, but the ejector feature is not a part of the present invention and details of the grips are'therefore. not described.

Thev aperture et? in the lower thimble 5 has opposite enlargements v to provide ample clearance for the passage oi the lead grips.`

A helical impeller 'is arranged for rota-` tion about the stein guide. In some cases this impeller may be or' substantially continuous forum-butter greater manufacturing convenience it consists of an upper section 8O corresponding tov lead carrying stem 60, and a lower section 81 corresponding to These sections are made of wire of substantial thickness and stiffness. Each impeller section consists of; two parts,'a lower part 83 of steep pitch to give rapid lead movement and an upper part 84 of line pitch to give slow lead movement. The two helices haveA opposite leads,that is, either one may have a right-hand lead corresponding to aright-hand screw, and the other has n a left-hand lead or pitch.

The lower end ofthe lower helix 8l extends within the lower thimble 5 and is revoluble therein and about the guide 45. The

yupper end'of the lower helix and the lower end o't the upper helix are located in and 1 fixed to a sleeve 86 which has a rotary bearing lit in themain case bore 2. The Vhelices are secured to the sleeve in any convenient way, ttor example by soldering. Thesleevej 86 may be dispensed with in some cases, but

lll)

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lin

Levante tion ofthe impeller helix with the adjacent edge of the thimble member 23.

' lVith the partsv in the position 'shown in Fig. l, to Withdraw the lead which is in projected' position and to project the inactive lead, the finger flange or knob is turned counter-clockwise. The upper helix 80, located .between lugs 65 of the follower 62. then moves the follower and the connected vrlead carrier stem with its lead grip 70 and lead,y down. while the lower helix 8l in` engagement between the lugs of the follower "'64V moves "the other lead ystem 61,`

grip leadl and grip, upward. Thev lead stems, gripsand leads move very close together being separated only by the thickness of kthe central guide web 52 or in other words, the carriers and leads are always very close tothe axis of the pencil. The movement of the inside lead toward projected position i's'at first slow, because theV follower lugs are 1n engagement with the` fine pitch portion of the heliX while retraction --of the projected lead is relativelyV rapid, because its follower lugs are infengagement with Qthe steep pitch-.portionfof vthe helixv 8l. kWhen the lead held vby grip approaches the tip openingr or in other r`words, isnearly in projected position,l its movement will be rapid because the corresponding follower lugs then engagethe steep pitch portion of their helix 80, andv the movement ofthe other lead which is now being retractedy becomes relatively slow by engagement ofits yfollower lugs with the fine 'pitch portion of helix 8l. vrI" rom one point of view therefore, the inepitch portions of thel helices are provided so that the movement of the indrawn or inactive lead, which is necessary to permitsufhcient movement ofthe projected or active lead, is rel- I ing ll, its lower endstrikes the inner conical vwall of the tip, and is defiected slightly so that the leadpasses freely throughL the 'tip hole without any considerableangular- Aity 'or any considerable' deflection of thel lead stem, and far as"v the user' can ob= As the inside lea-dl '4 carried by grip 7 0 approaches the tip openserve,'the lead projects substantially straight from the pencil tip, the same` as if it and its carrier were actually inthe exact 1ongitudinal axis of the pencil. The carrier stems bend slightly to permit necessary de flection of the leads and carriers to the case axis". This bending is indicated onlygapproximately in Fig. 1, Where there is a slight bend in the carrier stem of the projected lead at aboutthe point where vthe stem is joined to the *lead grip 7l. Actually the. slight curvature of the stem will be in a long arc which it is impracticable to represent in the drawing, and this slight degree Vof bending imposes no appreciable 'or objectionable strain upon the carrier stem or any other 'parts'. The tip hole 11 is made to have a4 fairly snug sliding'fit on a lead of standard siZe, and when so made there isno appreciable lateral play; the nature of the impeller helices and followers and other related parts, is also suchv that there is absolutelyor practically no end play of the leads and when properly projected and adjusted, the lead is held firml and true,

'substantially as in a fixed-lead pencil.

Reverse 'motion of the 'finger knob 30l moves the lead/carriers and leads in opposite directions, as will be obvious without further explanation. Y

The' shape and arrangement 'of the upper and lower thimbles and especially as to the ylatter, the arrangement of the inward tubular portion 23,l accommodates the lower and upperends of the respective helices, andalso permits free motion of the followers with their lugs tothe lower and upper ends of the respective helices at which time lthe follower Gtis' substantially at the-bottom of thimble 5 and the other follower 62, is at the upper end rof thimble portion 23 or against. the transverse wall 24 thereof.

The confronting faces of the follower lugs` are somewhat rounded olf, in away which it 'is Vdifficult to show in the drawing, tol cooperate with the different pitch portions of the helices, or in other words, so that the lugs have a snug bult easy sliding fit onboth Vportions of the helix, without any perceptible lost motion.

vOnly two lead holders and lead-sare employed in the present specific construction,

but many of the' features disclosed are.

adaptable to pencils having three or,` more lead carriers, andy also certain features are adaptable to a pencil having only one movable lead carrier and lead. Y

"While iny a two-'lead pencil one lead may beprojected while the other is retracted and really idle or inactive, or both leads may be in retracted position at the same time tov prevent injury ytowa" 'projecting lead point when not in use, the two'y leads are really mounted or arranged in' active positions since they are available immediately forv use Y lill) close to the longitudinal axis of the pencilr and in directive engagement with the guide, and means for moving the carriers to and fro, the tip and lead aperture cosoperating with leads mounted in the carriers to guide one lead to projected, substantially axial position by slight deflection of its carrier, while the other carrier and its lead are being withdrawn within the case.

2. A multi-lead pencil comprising a case having a tip provided with a lead aperture at the case axis, a central guide, a plurality of lead carriers located close together and close to the ,longitudinal axis ot the pencil and in directive engagement with the guide, and means for moving two of the carriers i simultaneously to and froV in opposite directions, the tip and lead aperture cooperating with leads mounted in the carriers to guide one lead to projected, substantially axial position by slight deflection of its carrier,

"i while the other carrier and its lead are being withdrawn within the case.

8. A multi-lead pencil comprising a case, a tip with a substantially conical interior leading to a lead opening atfthe point end, .a lixed guide extending longitudinally within the case substantially at the case axis and terminating at a point substantially upward from the lead opening, a plurality ot lead carrier stems arranged parallel and close together and close to the pencil axis and in directive engagement with the guide, and means for moving the stems to and fro, the vtip and lead opening co-operating with one of the leads as the respective carrier `ismoved outward toV locate the projected lead in substantially axial position by slight deflection of the carrier while the other carrier and its lead are being withdrawn within the casinff.

4l. A multi-lead pencil comprising a case, a tip with a substantially conical interior leadingto a .lead opening at the point end, a fixed guide extending longitudinally within the case substantially at the case axis and terminating at a point substantially upward from the lead opening, a plurality of lead carrier stems arranged parallel and close together and close to the pencil axis and in directive engagement with the guide, and

means for simultaneouslymoving one carrier inwardy and the other outward, and vice versa, the tip and lead opening co-operating' with one of theleads as the respective carrier is moved outward to locate the projected 'lead in substantially axial position by slight deflection of the carrier while the other carrier and its lead are being withdrawn within the casing. j v

5. A multi-lead pencil comprising a case, a central guide, a plurality of lead carriers located parallel and close together and lclose to the longitudinal axis of the pencil and in directive engagement with the guide, said carriers also being arrangedfor projection of their respective leads selectively at the saine cud ot the case, and ay helical impeller mounted for rotation about the guide and in engagement with the carriers.

soi

6. A multidead pencil comprising a case,

a central guide, a plurality of lead carriers located parallel-and close together and close to the longitudinal axis of the pencil and in directive engagement with the guide, said carriers alsobeing arranged for projection or their respective leads selectively at the same end of the case, and impelling means coi'nprising two connected helical sections of opposite pitch-lead arranged for rotation about the guide, and in engagement with thev carriers. y

7. A multi-lead pencil comprising a case, a central guide, a plurality of lead carriers located parallel and close together rand close to the longitudinal axis of the lpencil and `in directive engagement Vwith the guide, said carriers also being arranged'for projection of their respective leads selectively atl the same end of the case, and impelling means comprising connected upper and lower helical sections of opposite pitch-lead arranged for rotation about the guide, one ofthe carriers yhaving a follower engaging the upper impeller section andthe other carrier having a follower engaging the lower impeller section.

8. A multi-lead pencil comprising a case,

a tip with a substantially conical interior leading to a lead opening at the point end, a fixed guide extending longitudinally within the case substantially at the case axis and terminating at a pointvsubstantially upward from the lead opening, a plurality` of lead carrier stems arranged parallel and vclose together and close to the pencil axis and in directive engagement with the guide, and a helical impeller mounted for rotation about they guide and in driving engagement with the carrier stems. y

9. A multi-lead pencil comprising a case, a tip with a substantially conical interior leading to a lead opening at the point end, a ixed guide extending longitudinally within the case substantially at the case axis and terminating at a point substantially upward from the lead opening, a plurality of lead carrier stems arranged parallel andclose together and close to the pencil axis and in directive engagement with the guide, and impelling means comprising two connected helical sect-ions of opposite pitch-lead arranged for rotation about the guide.

10. A multi-lead pencil comprising a case, a tip with a substantially conical interior leading to a lead opening at the point end, a fixed guide extending longitudinally within the case substantially at the case axis and terminating at a point substantially upward from the lead opening, a plurality of lead carrier stems arranged parallel and close together and close to the pencil axis and in directive engagement with the guide, and impelling means comprising two connected helical sections of opposite pitch-lead Aarranged for rotation about the guide, one of the carrier stems being relatively longand having a follower engaging the upper impeller section and the other carrier stem being relatively short and having a follower engaging the lower impeller section.

11. A pencil comprising a case, a substantially central guide therein having channels separated by a thin web, lead carriers arranged forlongitudinal movement in the channels, and an impeller in the form oi a metal rod bent in helical form and located for rotation about the guide, the carriers having means engaging the impe-ller helix for reciprocation of the carriers by rotation of the helix. y

12. A multi-lead pencil comprising a tubular case, a tip having a substantially conical interior leading to the lead aperture at the tip end, a central fixed guide having longitudinal channels, lead carrier stems mounted for reciprocation in the channels and each having a grip for an active lead, an impeller helix having two connected sections of opposite lead arranged for rotation about the guide, and 'externally accessible means for rotating the helix to move one lead to projected position while the other is retracted, and vice versa.

13. A multi-lead pencil comprising a tubular case, a tip having a substantially `conical interior leading to the lead aperture at the tip end, a central fixed guide having longitudinal channels, lead carrier stems mounted for reciprocation in the channels and each having a grip for an active lead, an impeller helix having two connected sections of opposite lead arranged for rotation about the guide, externally accessible means for rotating the helix to move one lead to projected position while the other is retracted, and vice versa, and a fitting located near the lower end of the case in which the lower portion of the guide is fixed. f

14. A multi-lead pencil comprising a tubular case, a tip having a substantially conical interior leading to the lead aperture at the tip end, a central fixed guide having longitudinal channels,`lead carrier stems ymountedl for reciprocation in the channels and each lhaving a grip for an active lead, an impeller helix having two connected sections of opposite lead arranged for rotation about the guide, externally accessible means for rotating'the helix to move one lead to projected position while the other is retracted, and vice versa, and a fitting located near the lower end of the case in which the lower portion of' the guide is fixed, the iitting being of tubular form to accommodate a lower portion of the impeller helix.

15. A multi-lead pencil comprising a tubular case, a tip having a substantially conical interior leading to the lead aperture at the tip end, a central fixed guide having longitudinal channels, lead carrier stems mounted for reciprocation in the channels and each having a grip for an active lead, an impeller helix having two connected sections of opposite lead arranged for rotation about the guide, externally accessible means for rotating the helix; to move one lead to projected position while the other is'retracteCh'and vice versa, a fitting rotatably mounted near the upper end of the case, the upper' end oi 'the'impeller helix being secured to said fitting', and an externally accessible member connected to the fitting for rotating the latter and the impeller to move the carriers to and fro.

16. A multi-lead pencil comprising a tubular case, a tip having a substantially conical interior leading to the lead aperture at the tip end, a central fixed guide having longitudinal channels, lead carrier stems mounted for reciprocation in the channels and each having a grip for an active lead, an impeller helix having two connected sections of opposite lead arranged for rotation about the guide, externally accessible means for rotating the helix to move one lead to projected position While the other is retracted, and Vice versa, a fitting rotatably mounted near the upper end of the case, the upper end of the impeller helix being secured to said fitting, and an exter# nally accessible member connected to the fitting for rotating the latter and the impeller to move the carriers to and fro, said fitting being of tubular form to accommodate an upper portion of the impeller helix.

17. A. multi-lead pencil comprising a tubular case, a tip having a substantially conical interior leading to the lead aperture at the tip end, a central fixed guide for reciprocation in the channels and each having a grip for al active lead, an impeller helix having two connected sections of opposite lead arranged for rotation about the guide, externally accessible means for rotating the helix to move one lead to projected position while the other is retracted, and vice versa, and a spare lead magazine located in an upper counter-bore of the case, the magazine having longitudinal peripheral channels forming spare-lead pockets in conjunction with the adjacent case wall.

18. A multi-lead pencil comprising a tubular case, a tip having a substantially conical interior leading to the lead aperture at the tip end, a central fixed guide for reciprocation in the channels and each having a grip for an active lead, an impeller helix having two connected sections of opposite lead arranged for rotation about the guide, externally accessible means for rotating the helix to move one lead to projected position while the other is retracted, and vice versa, a spare lead magazine located in an upper counterbore of the case, the magazine having longitudinal peripheral channels forming sparelead pockets in conjunction with the adjacent case wall, and a fitting rotatably mountcd in an upper part of the magazine and connected to the impeller helix to rotate the same.

19. Operating mechanism for a multi-lead pencil comprising` a substantially cylindrical, longitudinally channeled guide, a Wire impeller helix having` a close rotatable lit about the guide, leadncarrier stems located in the channels, and follower lugs projecting from the stems and engaging oppositev sides of the impeller helix.

20. A multi-lead pencil comprising a case having a lead aperture at one end, a revolu- ,j

ble operating knob at the other end of the case, lead carrier stems in the case, each stem having means for supporting a lead, and the stems and otherparts being adapted for the selective projection of one lead at a time through said lead aperture, a central longitudinal guide having means for locating the carrier stems and directing them for straight line movement in parallel relation near the axis of the case, and an impeller mounted for rotation about the guide, the impeller having helical formations of opposite lead at different portions of its length, one of said helical formations co-operating with one of the carrier stems and the other formation cooperating with the other carrier stem to move the stems simultaneously in opposite directions when the impeller is rotated.

Signed at Belleville, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, this 23 day of July A. D. 1925.

FRANK FUREDY. WILLIAM FAVINI. CHARLES SCHROTH. 

